Beyond the Conversation

Category: Academic

Abaissé (Beyond the Conversation) provides a setting in which to earnestly study and discuss literature, philosophy, history, religion, art, music, and politics based off of primary sources and scholarly commentary.
Abaissé meets twice to three times a week in Boe Memorial Chapel, room 202, Sundays at 6:00, Wednesdays at 8:00, and Fridays on occasion. There is a full-semester schedule for the expected reading / studying / research undertaking members will do before each meeting, and each meeting will be a chance to discuss and converse about each undertaking.
Abaissé is open to all St. Olaf students, faculty, and staff, provided that they share a true passion for scholarship for the sake of scholarship. All members will actively engage with delight for each meeting and scholarly venture.
The title "Abaissé" is derived from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, in which he states, “The ostensible purpose of the ABC Society was the education of children, but its real purpose was the elevation of men...ABC, as pronounced in French, make the word abaissé, that is to say, the under-dog, the people. The people were to assert themselves. To deride the pun would have been a mistake. A pun can be weighty in politics, as witness... ‘You are Peter (the rock) and on this rock I will build my church.’”
Beyond the Conversation was established at St. Olaf in 2008, reestablished as Abaissé in 2014.

Meetings: 6:00pm on Sundays, and 8:00pm on Wednesdays; special events on Friday evenings